DOMAINE MONTROSE PRESTIGE ROSÉ 2017, IGP Côtes De Thongue, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

01 Friday Feb 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Rosés

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: 70% Grenache, 25% Rolle, 5% Syrah
Category: Rosé Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Côtes De Thongue, Languedoc-Roussillon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Montrose
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp, dry with a nice citric & mineral flavour

Positives: Pale apricot in colour featuring tangerine, apricot, strawberry and shale.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Old Grenache planted on pebbly siliceous clay terrace. Rolle selected on a dark volcanic hillside.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with grilled guinea fowl breast with roasted vine tomatoes and crispy ham.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 1, 2019

LCBO: 491076

CHANDON BLANC DE NOIRS NV, California, United States of America

27 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $32.95 (Clearance price: $26.75)
Grape: Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chandon Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A wonderful, dry yet bright sparkling wine made in the traditional method

Positives: Pale gold in colour with fine mousse and featuring cherry, strawberry, white currants, white peach, light brioche & yeast, limestone and rose petal on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: US Operation of Moët & Chandon

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 7-10 of years on its own or pair it with grilled chicken with chimichurri sauce.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: January 27, 2019

LCBO: 100693

MANCURA GRAN RESERVA

26 Saturday Jan 2019

Posted by in Not Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $17.95 (Clearance price: $14.40)
Grape: Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Casablanca Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mancura Winery
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

It’s like biting into a twig, very bitter

Positives: None

Negatives: Bitter

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: January 26, 2019

LCBO: 515767

PONDVIEW BELLA TERRA CHARDONNAY 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

25 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, White Wines

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pondview Estates
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A nicely balanced, oak inspired Chard

Positives: Medium+ body wine featuring lemon rind, pineapple, golden apples, peach, pear, roasted almonds and oak spice.

Negatives: Has a touch of lemon white pith causing a slight bitterness, which caused my to downgrade this wine from highly recommended to recommended.

Interesting Point: I like the old style label

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster and drawn butter.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: January 25, 2019

13th STREET WINERY MERITAGE 2016, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

18 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: 53% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A quality, complex & expressive Canadian Meritage that’s rare to see considering it’s less than 3 yrs old and under $35

Positives: Full body wine with dry tannin features dark cherry, plum, blackberry, black currants, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather, rosemary, sage, anise, tobacco leaves, arugula, cinnamon and cloves.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with medium rare rib-eye steak.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: January 18, 2019

GLEN CARLOU CHARDONNAY 2014, Paarl, South Africa

13 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, White Wines

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Cost: $22.49
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: Tortuga Wines & Fine Spirits
Country: South Africa
Region: Paarl
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Glen Carlou
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A smooth, balanced Chard with good acidity, tropical fruit & oak well integrated

Positives: Full body wine featuring lemon, green and red apples, pineapples, mango, peach, pear, oak spice and Easter lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Winery is certified integrity & sustainability

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Chilean seabass with charred cherry tomato, aqua pazza, cannellini beans and green olive butter.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: January 7, 2019

RAVENTOS i BLANC ROSÉ BRUT 2014, Conca Del Riu Anoia, Spain

12 Saturday Jan 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $37.50 US
Grape: Xarel-lo, Macabeu, Parellada, Monastrell
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: The Tasting Room & Wine Cellar
Country: Spain
Region: Conca Del Riu Anoia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Raventós i Blanc
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A very dry rosé Cava that is on the higher price range

Positives: Wine has a light salmon colour with a fine mousse and features raspberry, kiwi, white peach, pear, tangerine and rose petals on the nose.

Negatives: Price

Interesting Point: Winegrowers since 1497

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with spicy cheese omelette.

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: January 12, 2019

CHAMPAGNE LE MESNIL BLANC DE BLANCS GRAND CRU BRUT NV, AOC Côtes des Blanc, Champagne, France

12 Saturday Jan 2019

Posted by in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended

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Cost: $75.00 US
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Champagne Wine
Location: The Tasting Room & Wine Cellar
Country: France
Region: Côtes des Blanc, Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Le Mesnil
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic expression of Blanc de Blancs Champagne

Positives: Rich, crisp and yeasty Champagne featuring a fine mousse, buttered brioche, green and yellow apples, lemon rind, cucumber and limestone

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: – 90% 2014 harvest, 5% 2013 harvest, 5% 2010 harvest

-Bottled in April 2015, minimum 3 years aged in cellar

-Disgorged in 2018 as Brut with sugar dosage 9 g/l)

-100% of vineyards of Le Mesnil sur Oger are ranked as Grand Cru

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10-15 of years on its own or pair it with crispy fried calamari.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: January 12, 2019

SKYFALL MERLOT 2015, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

11 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, Red Wines

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Cost: $24.97 US
Grape: 88% Merlot, 7% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location: Tortuga Fine Wine & Spirits
Country: United States of America
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Skyfall Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Verging on the sweeter commercial side

Positives: This wine features kirsch, plum, blueberry, vanilla and cocoa powder with light tannins.

Negatives: Slight sweet

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 2-5 of years on its own or pair it with dark chocolate

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: January 11, 2019

MUD HOUSE PINOT NOIR 2015, Central Otago, New Zealand

10 Thursday Jan 2019

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, On The Fence, Red Wines

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14671

Cost: $27.49
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Tortuga Fine Wines & Spirits, Cayman Islands
Country: New Zealand
Region: Central Otago
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mud House Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautiful nose, as expected from a Central Otago Pinot, but falls short on the taste, so sad!

Positives: Wine features cherry cola, cranberry, black olives, dark chocolate, cedar and vanilla

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Chill to 15C

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with

My Opinion: On the Fence

Tasted: January 9, 2019